Historic Prague Tour “Best of Prague”

You will experience the culture, cuisine, art and architecture of one of the most incredible cities in the world. We’ll walk and use public transportation – the best way to enjoy this beautiful city. Tours are customized based on your individual needs and interests. I will meet you at your hotel or apartment.

We start in National Museum (Narodni Museum) built in 1912. Walking down the Square we pass many fine hotels, restaurants and pubs - examples of Art Nouveau, Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Classical and Baroque architectural styles.

Walking into Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti) and the elaborate Rococo stuccowork of C.G. Bossi, which decorates Church of Our Lady before Tyn, the Art Nouveau Powder Gate, and Church of St. Nicholas dominates one corner of Old Town Square.

The Rudolfinum, is the home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. It is an outstanding display of Czech Neo-Renaissance style

From the Jewish Quarter we walk over the 14th century The Prague Castle, Old Town, the Vltava River.

In the St Vitus’s Cathedral, the St George’s Basilica, two Monastery’s Powder Tower, South Gardens.

Prague walking tour utilizes public tram up and down from Castle if you prefer to avoid steep incline of walkway. You may choose comfortable Direct Coach/Trains or private car for tours outside Prague. I can arrange for private car service to airport or train from your hotel when you leave Prague.

PRICES

8 Hour City Tour

1-2 persons: Euro 80

each additional person: Euro 10

We will make stops for coffee, drinks and lunch.

This is a Private tour and limited only to persons traveling with you.

Outside Prague Tours

These tours may be by either private car or by comfortable direct Coach or Train. I utilize a fully licensed and insured chauffer company that provides the driver and a late model Skoda Octavia touring car for group of 1 -2 people and a late model luxury mini-van for group of 3- 4 people for these wonderful drives through the countryside to our destinations. These are private tours limited only to persons traveling with you. Castles at Konopiste and Karlstejn are closed on Mondays.

I can arrange custom itinerary tours with me for any where in the Czech Republic for you and your group. I can also arrange for custom itinerary tours of neighboring country's cities, Dresden, Krakow, Bratislava, Vienna and others.

Cesky Krumlov

This picturesque town is the most visited place outside of Prague, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a lively cosmopolitan town with a unique atmosphere surrounded by unspoiled countryside. Dominated by a Castle stretching over the meandering Vltava River, Český Krumlov's narrow cobblestone streets wind along romantic nooks between patrician houses where you'll find attractive exhibits of world- renowned artists. The cozy inns, coffee shops, and ancient taverns entertain a diverse international crowd.

Traveling to and returning will include several stops at other small towns and sights of interest

Karlovy Vary

Charming Karlovy Vary is the oldest of Bohemian spas and for over 200 years visited by European aristocrats and royalty, it remains one of the Czech Republic’s most attractive towns. Colonnades with mineral springs, remarkable monuments, green parks and a special atmosphere... All that and much more makes Karlovy Vary one of the most beautiful spa towns you can visit.

Traveling to and returning will include several stops at other small towns and sights of interest.

Plzen

As the country’s fourth-largest city and the capital of west Bohemia, at its heart lies a spectacular old town square wrapped in a halo of tree-lined gardens. Famous for it’s Pilsner Urquell brewery and for Skoda Engineering Works it has a lively student population in Music and the Arts.

Traveling to and returning will inlcude several stops at other small towns and sights of interest.

Karlstejn Castle

The most famous and splendid medieval high Gothic castle founded in 1348, has a unique position among Czech castles. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place for safekeeping of the royal treasures, especially Charles's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire. The present appearance of the castle comes from the last reconstruction, which was carried out in the puristic neo-Gothic style by architect Josef Mocker at the end of the 19th century.

Traveling to and returning will include several stops at other small towns and sights of interest.

Kutna Hora

This charming Bohemian town is an enjoyable trip from Prague. Once one of Europe’s biggest and richest towns from silver ore discovered underneath it, with hundreds of medieval and baroque buildings, it is a UNESCO world heritage site. After lunch we visit the ossuary in the nearby village of Sediec known as the bone church.

Traveling to and returning will include several stops at other small towns and sights of interest.

Main sights

Bone Church, St. Barbora’s Church, The Mint, The Italian Court. Stop for lunch.

Konopiste Chateau

One hour from Prague is one of the most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic surrounded by English style wooded grounds with lakes, gardens and statuary. Built in about 1300 it is best known for its last owner, successor to the Austro-Hungarian throne, whose June 1914 assassination in Sarajevo started the First World War.

Traveling to and returning will inlcude several stops at other small towns and sights of interest.

Terezin

The Terezín Memorial in the town of Terezín was built as a Baroque army fortress by emperor Josef II in the 18th century. The fortress served as a prison almost from the very beginning and became notorious as a Gestapo prison, Jewish Ghetto and concentration camp in World War II. In the years 1941 - 1945, Terezín became the largest concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Over 140,000 Jewish men, women and children were brought there from around the country, as well as from Germany, Austria, Holland, Denmark, Slovakia and Hungary. The majority of those who survived the forced labor, malnutrition and terrible living conditions were later transported to the extermination camps further east. Terezín was turned into a memorial in 1947.

Traveling to and returning will include several stops at other small towns and sights of interest.

History of Prague

The early Celtic Tribes from 500 BC first inhabited Prague around the Vltava valley. Three Great Dynasties have shaped the history of Prague – the Premyslids (around 800 AD), the Luxemburgs (1300) and the Habsburgs (1500).

The Premyslids built two fortified settlements. The first, The Prague Castle built in the late 8th Century and completed in 1182 of beautiful Romanesque design.

The second settlement was built at Vysehrad – the name means, “Castle on the heights.” Like the first settlement, it was built in 8th Century, this one on a rocky headland on the right bank of the Vltava River and of Gothic and Neo-Gothic Design. Both settlements were the first seats of Czech Royalty and remained such for hundreds of years.

Prince Wenceslas – he of the well-known Christmas carol – is probably the Czech Republic’s most famous citizen. The young Prince, who lived in the 10th Century, was murdered by his brother Boleslav, as he was about to enter church for morning mass. The Prince was later canonized and became Bohemia’s best-known patron saint, St. Wenceslas. Statues of him can be found on the Charles Bridge (Karluv Most), Wenceslas Square (Vaclavske Namesti), and his tomb is in St. Vitus’s Cathedral at the Prague Castle.

John of Luxemburg occupied Prague in 1310 and produced one of Prague’s greatest rulers, Charles IV, who was King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor. In 1526, the city came under the rule of the Austrian House of Habsburg, a dynasty that lasted 400 years.

On October 28, 1918, Czechoslovakia gained its independence and Tomas Masaryk became the first democratically elected president. Since that time, The Prague Castle has been the seat of the government.

The Soviet Red Army entered Prague on 9 May 1945; and The “Velvet Revolution” of 1989 grew out of civil discontent prompting demonstrations and strikes leading to the formation of The Czech Republic under the leadership of playwright, Vaclav Havel, by popular demand.

Transportation

Prague walking tour utilizes public tram up and down from castle if you prefer to avoid steep incline of walkway. You may choose comforatble direct coach/trains or private car for your tours outside Prague. I can arrange for private car service to the airport from your hotel when you leave Prague.

Prague Map

Contact me

Your Guide: Vilem “Tomas” Ivan

I was born in the Czech Republic in the region of Moravia, in the city of Zlin east of Prague to a large family. I am fluent in English speaking, reading and writing as well as my native language.

Upon graduating from secondary school I enrolled in hotel and hospitality academy and as part of that program I interned for 6 months at a hotel in London. Returning to Prague I worked for a well known European five star hotel for several years in customer service. My passion and study of European history and that of my own country, including world war II and the 1989 Czech velvet revolution, led me to doing walking tours of Prague, sharing my knowledge with many visitors in my “off time” from the hotel for the last 5 years. Now this is my chosen career path, to share my historical knowledge in an entertaining style with travellers to my country and the enjoyment of meeting a variety of people in the process.

I have been very fortunate to have many of my past tour customers graciously invite me to enjoy their homes and hospitality to experience, the history, culture and customs in Europe as well as America. I have visited Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hawaii, Pittsburgh, New York City, Washington DC and Florida.

You will like my easy going style and you will feel comfortable and safe with me as we travel at your pace stopping along

the way for any reason. The most important thing to me is that you enjoy yourself.

Book Tours

* Since I do not require a deposit for my services, kindly give me a 72 hours cancellation notice If your travel plans change, or you need to cancel your reservation(s). I will be happy to re-book your tour/trip based on future availability. Thank you very much for this consideration!